SMETHPORT — Sentencing has been set for Dec. 22 in McKean County Court for the Bradford man convicted of 251 counts of sex crimes and related charges against children.

Darvin Carpenter, 52, was charged with committing crimes against seven juveniles between the years of 2000 and 2022, according to District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer.

At a hearing in October, Carpenter was determined to be a sexually violent predator. Sentencing is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 22 at the courthouse before Judge John Pavlock.

Shaffer said the crimes came to light in 2022 after a juvenile girl reported to her mother that Carpenter had touched her inappropriately, and the mother reported it to the child abuse hotline, Childline.

The report was referred to Children and Youth Services and law enforcement, and Trooper Eric Thompson of Lewis Run-based state police was assigned the investigation.

Through their investigation, police identified “six other victims who reported numerous instances of rape from the age of 5, forced oral sex on victims under age 13, unlawful touching of children under age 16, providing marijuana to juveniles and numerous other crimes,” Shaffer said.

“Six of the victims — all now adults — testified before the jury and described the acts committed by the defendant through the last two decades and at various locations in McKean County — including various places he resided, his vehicle and some of the victims’ own residences,” the prosecutor continued. “Some of the victims described not only the crimes he committed against them, but other crimes they witnessed against other children.”

Carpenter was convicted of 10 counts of rape of a child under 13; 10 counts of rape by forcible compulsion; 55 counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; 6 counts of solicitation to commit IDSI on a person less than 16; three counts of aggravated indecent assault; 20 counts of statutory sexual assault; 20 counts of sexual assault; 112 counts of indecent assault; 11 counts of distribution of a small amount of marijuana; three counts of corruption of minors; and one count of indecent exposure.

Following the conviction, Shaffer asked for an increase in Carpenter’s bail, which was at $750,000. Pavlock agreed, and bail was increased to $1 million.

Carpenter is represented by Erie attorney Tyler Lindquist.